Scholars Dr. David Kelley and Dr Don Stone suspect that the name Zakai was introduced into this paternal line via the marriage of Yitzchak Avraham ben Nathan to a daughter of David ben Zakkai of Babylon. David ben Zakkai was the Rosh Golei of Babylon and Rosh Yeshiva of Sura.

Zakai ben Avraham had at least two (2) sons 1) David and 2) Abraham ben Nathan.

Marriage among the Nagid HaGolah of al-Ifriqiya and Babylon Gaonim would bind Sura, Pumbeditha and Kairouan Mu'tazilite traditions. This is a marriage between a Palestinian Exilarch and a Palestinian Exilarch's daughter.